"I am wherever My lovers are." - Avatar Meher Baba
Agnes Montano
AVATAR MEHER BABA, born at 5:00 a.m. on February 25, 1894, in Pune (formerly Poona), India.
By Agnes Montano
Meher Baba’s birthday — February 25th — has always been a joyous occasion and very close to my heart.
Not only does it mark Meher Baba’s manifestation as the Avatar of this Age, but it is also a commemoration of the gift He bestowed on us by allowing us to open our hearts to His love…and to each other.
Meher Baba’s 1967 birthday message resonated with me so much because it is such a strong reminder ('“in this age of mess”) that as much as we would love to get together to celebrate His birthday, what matters the most is that we know that on February 25th and every day of our lives, He is our constant companion.
The following is Meher Baba’s 1967 birthday message.
Meher Baba’s 1967 Birthday Message
“Births and deaths are illusory phenomena.
One really dies when one is born to live as God the Eternal, Who is beyond both birth and death.
It is easy to love Me because I am Love. But it is difficult to love Me with that love by which I am attained.
In this age of mess, My message is:
Hold fast to My daaman and be one hundred percent honest in every way; because God besides being infinite Power, Knowledge and Bliss is also infinite Honesty. And so, by being honest in everything, you will be able to love God honestly as He ought to be loved.
I will be with you all who gather for My birthday to celebrate My being among you. I am wherever My lovers are.
Let my Message of Love through you lead My children to the shore of My Ocean of Love.
My Love will draw them to Me whose hearts long to have a dip in the Ocean of My Love.”
“Dhun” - a musical repetition of Avatar Meher Baba’s name - was virtually recorded for the 2020 Anniversary of Meher Baba’s 1956 visit to Meher Mount. See the back story.
A Very Personal Celebration
There’s a ‘coincidental’ reason February 25th is significant for me personally.
Long before my husband Juan Mendez and I came close to Meher Baba, we chose February 25th for our wedding. There was not a specific reason for choosing this day… or so we thought back then.
Now, I know that this ‘coincidence’ was the beginning of my path to Meher Baba. Even though I had heard Meher Baba’s name a decade before I married Juan, my husband was definitely the ‘agent’ Meher Baba used so I would surrender to His love.
Four years after we married, we decided to go to India. We considered going for Amartithi (January 31st), but Juan’s health was such it wasn’t wise to expose him to the crowds that came to pay their respects at the Samadhi (Tomb Shrine) during that time.
So, in 1999, and again in 2000, we went for Meher Baba’s birthday because of the smaller attendance.
We have fond memories of those trips: The anticipation of getting ready for the big day, the buzz as volunteers decorated the Samadhi, the joy for the people that came, the collective energy, the smiles, the hugs… yes, so many hugs.
As I think of those celebrations, I remember that the best birthday gift we can give Meher Baba is to love Him with all the honesty our hearts are capable of.
Source
Meher Baba Calling (Revised & Enlarged Edition), 1992, edited by Jamshed B. Mistry & J. Flagg Kris, no page number. ©Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust, Ahmednagar, India.
Note
Agnes Montano and Juan Mendez are periodic temporary caretakers at Meher Mount. Agnes is a member of the board of directors and the corporate secretary.